ASTERACEAE

SUNFLOWER FAMILY

David J. Keil, Family Editor and author, except as specified

Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1–many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1–many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)4–5; stamens 4–5, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):1–28. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.

ERICAMERIA

GOLDENBUSH

Gregory K. Brown and David J. Keil

Shrubs < 50 dm, resinous, generally gland-dotted
Leaves < 10 cm, thread-like to wedge-shaped, entire
Inflorescence various; heads radiate or discoid; involucre 3–14 mm, obconic to hemispheric; phyllaries in 2–6 series, ± lanceolate to ovate, generally resinous, tips erect to recurved, obtuse to acuminate or tailed, midrib often thickened with a resin gland
Ray flowers 0–30; corollas 2–12 mm, generally yellow
Disk flowers 4–70+; corollas 3–11 mm, yellow
Fruit 2–8 mm, ribbed; pappus white to brown
Species in genus: ± 27 species: w North America
Reference: [Nesom 1990 Phytologia 68:144–155]
Generally flowers summer/autumn. Some species hybridize with Chrysothamnus nauseosus.

Native

E. linearifolia (DC.) Urbatsch & Wussow

INTERIOR GOLDENBUSH

Plant 4–15 dm, glabrous to ± puberulent
Leaf 10–55 mm, linear, acute; base narrowed
Inflorescence: head radiate, 1, on ± leafless peduncles; involucre 8–14 mm, 10–18 mm diam, hemispheric; phyllaries in 2–3 series, linear to lanceolate, acuminate, stalked-glandular, center green, margin cut-ciliate, scabrous
Ray flowers 13–18; corollas 9–20 mm
Disk flowers many; corollas 6–10 mm
Fruit 4–5 mm, compressed, 6–8-veined, densely silky-hairy; pappus 5.5–7 mm, white
Chromosomes: 2n=18
Ecology: Dry slopes, valleys
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sacramento Valley (Sutter Buttes), s San Joaquin Valley, e Central Western California, Western Transverse Ranges, Mojave Desert, w Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: Nevada, sw Utah, w Arizona
Flowering time: Mar–May
Synonyms: Haplopappus l. DC
Hybridizes with E. cooperi.
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY, SUN: 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; DFCLT.